The terms of the transaction were not announced, but the deal will add about 160 distributor locations to the Progressive Group Alliance, bringing the total for Progressive to almost 1,000 locations and combined sales of more than $20 billion.

Plee-Zing distributes a variety of products, including frozen foods and some fruits and vegetables, under the Plee-Zing and Lil’ Brave labels.

No staff changes are expected as part of the deal, and William Stickney, whose grandfather founded Plee-Zing 75 years ago, will remain as chairman of the board of directors and will help with the company through the first half of 2005.

Don Donakowski, Plee-Zing’s president, is expected to remain in that role as well. The Glenview office is expected to remain open for the next several months.

Neither company returned calls for this story, but Steve Push, president of distributor development for Progressive, said in a news release that the acquisition is part of a long-term strategy for growth that was implemented by his company in 1999.

Progressive Group Alliance is a network of 835 independent distributors throughout North America that operates under several groups including Pocahontas Foods USA, All Kitchens and Bakery Distributors of America.